# US 2008/0184540 A1 · Safety hook > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0184540 A1 - Document ID: US20080184540A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/703,418 - Filed: 2007-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Inventors: Don F Coulombe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080184540A1 ## CPC - F16B 45/028: {the position-locking means being pivotally connected} - F16B 45/023: {the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook} - F16B 45/026: {and including a coil type spring} - Y10T 292/03: Miscellaneous - Y10T 292/0917: Lever - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention broadly comprises a hook including a hook body having first and second ends, the first end includes a bent portion having inner and outer surfaces and a nose, and the second end includes an opening, a release lever having a first locking means and spaced apart parallel side walls, the first locking means arranged proximate to the inner surface of the hook body and a gate having spaced apart parallel side walls, the side walls including a second locking means and, the gate arranged to engage the nose, the second locking means arranged to complimentarily engage the first locking means, wherein pivoting of the release lever about a first rotational axis disengages the first and second locking means and permits pivoting of the gate about a second rotational axis. The present invention also broadly comprises a hook including a hook body having first and second ends, the first end includes a bent portion having a nose, and the second end includes an opening, a release lever having spaced apart parallel side walls and a first locking means and a gate having spaced apart parallel side walls, each of the side walls includes a second locking means having an arcuate wall portion arranged to complimentarily engage the first locking means, the gate arranged to engage the nose, the arcuate wall portions arranged opposite and parallel each other, wherein pivoting of the release lever about a first rotational axis disengages the first and second locking means and permits pivoting of the gate about a second rotational axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hook comprising: a hook body having first and second ends, said first end comprises an inner surface, an outer surface and a nose, and said second end comprises an opening, wherein said inner surface comprises a concave portion, said outer surface comprises a convex portion and said concave portion, said convex portion and said nose defining a bent portion; a release lever having spaced apart parallel side walls and a first locking means, said first locking means arranged adjacent to said inner surface of said hook body; and, a gate having spaced apart parallel side walls, said side walls including a second locking means, said gate arranged to engage said nose, said second locking means arranged to complimentarily engage said first locking means, wherein pivoting of said release lever about a first rotational axis disengages said first and second locking means and permits pivoting of said gate about a second rotational axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said first locking means is arranged to contact said inner surface of said hook body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said first locking means is arranged to contact said inner surface of said hook body when a force is applied to said gate to pivot said gate about said second rotational axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said nose further comprises a recessed tongue and said gate further comprises a notch arranged to complimentarily engage said recessed tongue. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 further comprising a release lever spring arranged to bias said release lever to engage said first and second locking means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 further comprising a gate spring arranged to engage said gate and said nose. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein each of said release lever spaced apart parallel side walls further comprises an arcuate slot, said arcuate slots arranged opposite each other and said hook body further comprises a double ended rivet arranged through said arcuate slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hook of claim 7 wherein a point of contact between said release lever and said outer surface of said bent portion is located along said first rotational axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said release lever is pivotally attached to said hook body by a fastening means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hook of claim 9 wherein said fastening means is a pin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hook of claim 9 wherein said fastening means is a rivet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said second locking means comprises an arcuate slot disposed in each of said gate spaced apart parallel walls, said arcuate slots arranged opposite each other and each of said arcuate slots includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with said first locking means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hook of claim 12 wherein said first locking means is a double ended rivet disposed through said arcuate slots. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The hook of claim 12 wherein said first locking means is a double ended rivet disposed through said arcuate slots, said double ended rivet further comprising a bearing sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said second locking means comprises an arcuate elevated portion disposed in each of said gate spaced apart parallel walls, said arcuate elevated portions arranged opposite each other and each of said arcuate elevated portions includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with said first locking means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hook of claim 15 wherein said first locking means is a pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The hook of claim 1 wherein said gate is pivotally attached to said hook body by a fastening means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hook of claim 17 wherein said fastening means is a pin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The hook of claim 17 wherein said fastening means is a rivet. ### Claim 20 A hook comprising: a hook body comprising a slot, a first end and a second end, said first end comprises a bent portion having a nose, and said second end comprises an opening; a release lever having spaced apart parallel side walls and a first locking means disposed within said slot; and, a gate having spaced apart parallel side walls, each of said side walls includes a second locking means comprising an arcuate wall portion arranged to complimentarily engage said first locking means, said gate arranged to engage said nose, said arcuate wall portions arranged opposite and parallel each other, wherein pivoting of said release lever about a first rotational axis disengages said first and second locking means and permits pivoting of said gate about a second rotational axis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The hook of claim 20 wherein said first locking means is a double ended rivet disposed through said release lever spaced apart parallel side walls. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The hook of claim 20 wherein said first locking means is a double ended rivet disposed through said release lever spaced apart parallel side walls, said double ended rivet further comprising a bearing sleeve. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The hook of claim 20 wherein said first locking means is a pin disposed between elevated portions of each of said release lever spaced apart parallel side walls. ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 A hook comprising: a hook body having first and second ends, said first end comprises a bent portion having inner and outer surfaces and a nose, and said second end comprises an opening, wherein said bent portion partially encloses said inner surface; a release lever having spaced apart parallel side walls and a first locking means, said first locking means arranged adjacent to said inner surface of said hook body; and, a gate having spaced apart parallel side walls, said side walls including a second locking means, said gate arranged to engage said nose, said second locking means arranged to complimentarily engage said first locking means, wherein pivoting of said release lever about a first rotational axis disengages said first and second locking means and permits pivoting of said gate about a second rotational axis.